Former TSA Officer
Sentenced to 45
Months in Federal
Prison for Accepting Cash from Narcotics
Trafficker

SEP 20 (BRIDGEPORT, Conn.) - Kevin
L. Lane, Acting Special Agent in Charge
of the Drug Enforcement Administration
for New England and David B. Fein,
United States Attorney for the District
of Connecticut, announced that Brigitte
Jones, 49, of the Bronx, N.Y., formerly
a Transportation Security Administration
officer based at Westchester County
Airport in White Plains, N.Y., was
sentenced today by United States District
Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to
45 months of imprisonment, followed
by three years of supervised release,
for accepting cash in exchange for
facilitating the transportation of
illegal narcotics and narcotics trafficking
proceeds through airport security
without detection. Jones, two other
TSA officers, a former Westchester
County Police officer and a former
Florida State Trooper have pleaded
guilty to federal charges stemming
from the investigation.

This matter
stems from “Operation
Blue Coast,” an
investigation
headed by the
Drug Enforcement
Administration’s
Bridgeport High
Intensity Drug
Trafficking Area
Task Force into
the large-scale
trafficking of
oxycodone pills
from Florida
to Connecticut.
The investigation
revealed that
an individual
regularly purchased
oxycodone from
suppliers in
Florida, transported
the oxycodone
to Connecticut
by commercial
airline or automobile,
and sold the
pills to various
Connecticut-based
narcotics dealers.
The narcotics
trafficker purchased
oxycodone pills
in Florida for
approximately
$5.00 per pill,
and traveled
from Florida
to Connecticut
several times
a week carrying
up to 8,000 oxycodone
pills per trip.
He then used
drivers to transport
him to and from
narcotics transactions
during which
he would sell
the pills to
Connecticut-based
dealers for between
$10.00 and $13.00
per pill. After
exchanging low-denomination
currency for
larger notes,
he transported
the proceeds
of his oxycodone
sales from Connecticut
to Florida, either
by having a courier
drive the money
or by using commercial
airline flights.
The Connecticut-based
dealers sold
the pills to
lower-level dealers
and drug customers
for between $23.00
and $30.00 per
pill.

According to
court documents
and statements
made in court,
Jones, who
was employed
as a Transportation
Security Agency
officer at
Westchester
County Airport
in White Plains,
N.Y., was aware
that the Florida
trafficker
was transporting
large quantities
of oxycodone
from Florida,
and then transporting
the cash proceeds
of his sale
of oxycodone
through Westchester
County Airport
on his way
back to Florida.
Jones agreed
to allow the
Florida narcotics
trafficker
to transport
what she believed
were oxycodone
pills through
Westchester
County Airport
security and
promised that
she would help
to ensure that
he would not
be stopped
by TSA agents.
In exchange,
the trafficker
paid Jones
cash.

On May 19,
2011, the Florida
narcotics trafficker,
who at this
time was cooperating
with law enforcement,
paid Jones
$200 at a bar
in White Plains.

On June 2,
2011, Jones
and the Florida
trafficker
met at a location
in Greenwich
where they
discussed his
oxycodone trafficking
activity. During
this meeting,
the Florida
trafficker
paid Jones
$500.

On June 27,
2011, Jones
again met with
the Florida
trafficker
and received
another $500
to help him
pass through
airport security
screening the
following day
with what he
claimed were
an excess amount
of oxycodone
pills that
he did not
distribute
in Connecticut.
A recorded
conversation
at that time
captured Jones
stating: “Just
tell me what
time you’re
coming in.
Tell me what
flight you’re
going to be
on, what time
you’re
going to be
at the airport.
When you get
to the airport
and you’re
there and you’re
checking in
at the counter,
you let me
know so when
you’re
coming through
security, I’ll
take care of
the rest.”

On June 28,
2011, Jones
was on duty
and, consistent
with the prior
day’s
agreement,
did not stop
the Florida
trafficker
from passing
through Westchester
County Airport
security while
he carried
1,500 pills
that she believed
to be oxycodone.
In fact, the
pills were
placebos.

Jones was arrested
on September
13, 2011.On
April 26, 2012,
Jones pleaded
guilty to one
count of extortion
under color
of right and
one count of
receipt of
a bribe by
a public official.

Twenty individuals
have been charged
as a result of
this investigation.
Christopher Allen
and Jonathan
Best, two TSA
officers who
were based at
Palm Beach International
Airport in Florida,
have pleaded
guilty and await
sentencing. Justin
Kolves, a former
Florida State
Trooper, and
Michael Brady,
a former Westchester
County Police
officer, also
pleaded guilty
and are currently
serving prison
terms of 84 months
and 37 months,
respectively.

As to the defendants
who are awaiting
trial, charges
are only allegations,
and each defendant
is presumed
innocent unless
and until proven
guilty beyond
a reasonable
doubt.

This matter
is being investigated
by the Drug
Enforcement
Administration’s
Bridgeport
High Intensity
Drug Trafficking
Area Task Force,
which includes
personnel from
the Connecticut
State Police
and the Bridgeport,
Milford, Norwalk,
Stamford and
Westport Police
Departments;
the Drug Enforcement
Administration
in Florida
and the U.S.
Department
of Homeland
Security Office
of Inspector
General. In
addition, the
U.S. Marshals
Service and
the Greenwich,
Monroe, Danbury
and Waterbury
Police Departments
have assisted
the investigation.

U.S. Attorney
Fein also acknowledged
the cooperation
of the Westchester
County Department
of Public Safety
and the Florida
Highway Patrol,
and the substantial
assistance
provided by
the United
States Attorney’s
Office for
the Southern
District of
Florida.